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4.
AOTW: It is said that editors no longer edit, that this task has fallen to agents. Is this
true? Do you edit your clients' work?
Maria Carvainis:
It is true that editors have less time to edit than in the past, although there remain
notable exceptions. Today's editor is more involved with acquisition and administration of
corporate responsibilities. Consequently, it is incumbent on the agent to work closely
with a writer preparing selling material, whether a proposal or manuscript, that makes an
impression. Given my editorial background, I am able to provide such input. I refer to
this input as editorial direction. However, I do not line edit any project. If the author
needs such assistance, she/he needs to acquire more skills or be prepared to work with a
freelance editor. Obviously, a well-established author needs less direction provides
she/he remains within the market in which the career has been built.
Jane Dystel:
Although there are some outstanding editors in our business, it is true that agents
are having to get more involved in this area than ever before. Mine was one of the first
agencies to have an in-house editor and I, personally, have always done a great deal of
editing on all of the materials that I send out to publishers. My philosophy is that
anything that leaves my office must be as clean and professionally put together as
possible. That way, we avoid embarrassment for the author and for us. Editors have come to
expect excellent presentations from us and have complimented me numerous times on how
strong my submissions are. I take pride in this and my authors do as well --- this
doesn’t hurt sales either.
Stuart Krichevsky:
This notion is a great discredit to most editors, who work extremely hard through
revision after revision to bring out the best in an author’s work. (It is also,
unfortunately, true of the way some editors publish some titles).
I do work closely with my authors, especially in preparing the material for submission to
publishers, but I never write or rewrite their proposals. The book will ultimately be
theirs, and I feel it’s important that the proposal is the author’s work, not
mine. I will guide them in directions that I think will help the book (and the sale) but
the author will ultimately make the choices.
Laura Blake Peterson:
I always do whatever I can to ensure that the work an author submits is the best it
can possibly be. My advice to any author is that they should presume that the other
submissions sitting on an editor's desk from other authors and agents are thorough,
well-developed and in perfect shape; don't assume an editor will give you the benefit of
the doubt.
Lisa Swayne:
I think it depends on the editor. I try very hard to make sure my clients' work gets
placed with an editor who will be active in the editing process. But there have certainly
been occasions when I edited my clients' work before we submitted the manuscript.
Amy Berkower:
I provide editorial guidance for many of my authors but I don't line edit. By
guidance, I mean that I often comment on characterization--is the hero and or heroine
likeable enough?--and on the dramatic quality of the author's prose--is too much being
told instead of shown to the reader?Unfortunately, commercial pressures and the demands of
the business have limited the amount of time editors can devote to editing. Though I often
wish they had more time for this critical part of their jobs, it's not true that editors
no longer edit.
Linda Mead:
The formal answer to this is 'no'. If something needs extensive editing, then perhaps it
was not even ready to be sent to an agent. However, in reality, we give a lot of thought
and consideration to the entire package after it is accepted. The project needs to be in
excellent condition before it is sent out. If it needs some aspect that is missing, such
as editing, then we may have to do that ourselves. Or we may suggest holding back the
project until the author (and a editor hired by the author if need be) fixes the problem.
Loretta Barrett:
I’m not one of the people who says that editors no longer edit. I work with a
number of absolutely superb editors who do edit. There are those in the industry who
don’t, but there are a number of wonderful editors who still do. However, within the
huge conglomerates, editors’ time is eaten alive by sales meetings, marketing
meetings, and other meetings, so it becomes increasingly difficult for them to squeeze in
the time to work on a manuscript. The best of them certainly do it, though. Because I was
an editor for so long, I personally do editorial work with my clients. Much of my
editorial work takes place before the project goes out on submission. I know what I needed
as an editor, and I feel I can be helpful in this process of taking the proposal or the
manuscript up a level, and I take great joy in doing it.
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